Thursday, August 27, 2009

Mourn with those who mourn

Could anything be more difficult than laying to rest a young mother of two, struck down early by the ravages of swine flu? Knowing that she, who had so anticipated the arrival of her daughter, died before even knowing that daughter had safely entered this world?

It was a beautiful, warm August morning in Puyallup today where we gathered with Katie's family to say goodbye. It was heavy, it was heart-wrenching. These are the mornings when, as a minister, you show up thinking 'what in the world do I have to offer in this situation? What can I possibly say to help us all navigate this nightmare?"

And yet, as God's people, we are never left without hope. For if "neither life nor death" can seperate us from the love of God, we are assured that God's love extends to that place beyond the grave, where we must surely live on as well.

Others within our Body are suffering as well - seniors with dangerous summer colds and spider bites, those suffering the pain of ongoing depression and anxiety, those still mourning the loss of loved ones within the last year; some are wondering about their future in this hurting economy.

But I was reminded this morning through a couple of conversations, and through the Word, that God is still good, and our hope secure, that weeping may last for a night, but joy comes with the morning.

God bless Kenny and the family with mercy.

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Lest there be any confusion between this note and earlier emails, this morning was the committal service; Katie's memorial is still planned for Saturday morning, 9:30 a.m., at Puyallup Foursquare.